Mary Bilyeu | Contributor

There's a new farmers' market in town, starting tomorrow: the Dixboro Farmers' Market. 

Residents of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti are so fortunate to have access to an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables, herbs, seedlings, flowers, baked goods, jams and so many other amazing products, made and grown right here in our own area and sold at many outdoor venues throughout the week. And how wonderful to be able to meet the farmers and vendors, make friends with them and support your neighbors by purchasing their fabulous goodies!

The Dixboro Farmers' Market opens Friday at 3:30 p.m. at the Village Green next to the Dixboro United Methodist Church.  There is a wide variety of vendors to welcome (with descriptions of their wares found on the market's website):

Agricola: "Agricola's pretzels are crisp and salty outside, yet soft and somehow dense and chewy on the inside.... To eat a soft pretzel in its full god-intended glory is sadly something many people will never engage in.  If you are in or around Dixboro you NEED to try one before you head home for the weekend."

Aurum Naturals: "Carrie began sourcing raw ingredients from independent, small-scale, organic suppliers and developed lip balm and toothpaste recipes. The product line expanded to include bath and hair oil, facial moisturizers, beeswax candles, and organic nut butters in glass jars... with more to come."

Bridgewater Barns: "Using organic biological and ecological principles, these enthusiastic farmers enjoy producing a stellar variety of vegetables, herbs, eggs, and pork. Everything is grown naturally without any chemicals and only certified organic grain is fed to their animals."

Dick's Pretty Good Garlic: "The Dyer Family Organic Farm... was established in 2009 by Dick and Diana Dyer who grow 40+ varieties of organic garlic, including the heirloom varieties Inchelium Red and Lorz Italian, both of which are designated by Slow Food USA for its 'Ark of Taste.'"

Ferris Farms: "Nestled quietly just outside Dixboro village is Ferris Farms.  This modern model of a farm will delight all with their fresh veggies. Although, while their veggies are fabulous, their blueberries and strawberries are legendary. It is wonderful to have great food grown not even two miles from our market."

This is a wonderful project to unite members of the community and to support farmers, businesses, and entrepreneurs. As the market's website states, it "aims to preserve both the area's agricultural history and foster innovation, while meeting the demands of area residents for additional opportunities to purchase local, fresh food."  

There are farmers' markets throughout Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti on varying days of the week, but this is the first one on the north side of town. When I've told friends in that area about it, they've been thrilled!

You should visit Mary's blog — Food Floozie — on which she enthuses and effuses over all things food-related.  And be sure to look for her monthly articles about holiday foods and traditions in the Washtenaw Jewish News.